Device for processing substances, in particular digestate and digestate mixtures

ABSTRACT

A device for processing digestate or digestate mixtures ( 2 ) includes a floor ( 3 ) on which is to be places the digestate ( 2 ). The floor ( 3 ) is designed gas-permeable. The device includes an inlet device ( 4 ) that can be connected to a line ( 6 ) for introducing a gaseous medium into the floor ( 3 ). The inlet device ( 4 ) is designed such that a gaseous medium can flow through at least part of the area of the floor ( 3 ) for purposes of aerating the digestate ( 2 ) and heating the digestate ( 2 ) if the gaseous medium is heated. At least one heating element ( 5 ) is provided in the area of the floor ( 3 ) to provide heat to the digestate.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a device for processing substances, in particular digestate or digestate mixtures and more generally to the processing of substances that are to be processed for treatment by application of heat.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Various devices are used, for example, for post-processing of digestate or a mixture of digestate and other substances from a process, e.g., a fermentation process. In the post-processing, the digestate, which arrives with a temperature of about 35° C. from the process, is post-processed for a certain amount of time at a higher temperature level. As a rule the digestate includes a large amount of liquid, in particular water, often at a level greater than 50%, requiring additional processing of the digestate in order to significantly lower the water content, so that composting, in particular, becomes possible.

To accomplish the required heating, an airflow that has been heated up in a tube is often blown through a floor plate of a processing container into the area of the digestate. This measure is to achieve a homogeneous distribution of the heated medium air in the digestate, such that it is heated as much as possible by the air. This process is very drawn out due to the low specific thermal capacity of air, because air that cools down when passing through the digestate must be collected as exhaust air and reheated before it can be blown into the inlet of the processing container. Using this procedure, heating up the digestate requires a large number of cycles. It also means that a great amount of energy is required to heat up the air, with this energy requirement increasing with the number of required cycles.

SUMMARY

It is therefore the objective of the invention to provide a device of the aforementioned kind that works significantly more effectively with regard to the required processing period and associated energy requirements.

This objective is achieved by a device for processing digestate or digestate mixtures (2), wherein the device includes a floor (3) for placing the digestate (2), whereby the floor (3) is gas-permeable, and whereby the floor (3) includes an inlet device (4) that can be connected to a line (6) for introducing a gaseous medium into the floor (3). The floor (3) configured such that the gaseous medium can flow through at least parts of the floor (3) for aerating the digestate (2), whereby a heating device (6 b) is provided in the line (6) for the purpose of heating the gaseous medium that is flowing through the line (6). At least one heating element (5) is provided in the floor (3) of the device. The heating heating element (5) is configured and arranged to be in contact with said digestate material (2).

In one embodiment, the floor (3) is part of a container (1) for receiving the digestate or the digestate mixture (2). The container (1) may include at least one outlet device (1 a) for discharging a gaseous medium that is located in the container (1). In another embodiment, the inlet device (4) for introducing the gaseous medium is connected to a line (6). The outlet device (1 a) and the inlet device (4) may be fluidly connected to each other via line (6) for recycling of the gaseous medium from the outlet device (1 a) to the inlet device (4).

In yet another embodiment, the line (6) may be switched such that is can be fed alternatively or in addition to the gaseous medium coming from the outlet device (1 a), with fresh air from the outside of the container (1).

In another embodiment, the heat-up of the digestate or the digestate mixture (2) may be carried out at least in part by heating the floor (3) of the container (1) using a heating element, whereby the heating element is different from the gaseous medium.

According to the invention, a heating device is provided in the bottom of the device which can be a part of the processing container. In this manner, a heated area is available through the bottom for the substances to be processed, in particular digestate, this area heating the substances “from the bottom” with a significantly reduced energy consumption. Thus, heating the substances becomes significantly more effective. In addition, with closed containers significantly fewer cycles are required for reheating the exhaust coming out of the container than with the conventional method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in detail based on the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, whereby in exemplary fashion the substance to be processed will be described as digestate, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention in the form of a composting container; and

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention in the form of a clamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The device shown in FIG. 1 includes a container 1 in which the digestate material 2 or a mixture with digestate material 2 or other substances requiring post-processing is arranged on the container floor 3, after the digestate 2 has been taken from a digester, for example. The floor 3 is designed to be gas-permeable such that a gaseous medium (suc has air or gas) can be blown under pressure from a line 6 entering the container 1 via one or more inlets 4 using a blower 6 b. The air blown into the container can be supplied via a valve 6 c or/and can be taken from the container 1 as exhaust via one or more outlets 1 a. Control of the supplied stream is accomplished via valves 6 c and 6 d. Depending on the air temperature, a heating device 6 a that is integrated in the line 6 or interacts with the line 6 in the manner of a heat exchanger can provide the temperature setting.

When taken from the fermentation process, the digestate material typically has a temperature of about 35° C., which needs to be raised to a significantly higher temperature level for processing. This increase occurs using the gas supplied via line 6, or the air supplied in this manner, respectively, which enters the container 1 via the permeable floor 3 and which is in this manner distributed under pressure in the digestate material 2. In addition, a heating device 5 is provided in the floor in direct proximity to the digestate 2 and is preferably provided in the floor 3, with a heating substance that is heated via the heater 5 a flowing through it using a pump 5 b. In this manner, the substrate to be processed is heated due to direct heat conduction. The supplied air (or gas) enters the container 2 as shown by the arrows P, and is distributed in the digestate material 2, flows through it and also heats it, and can be recirculated again (via valve 6 d back into heater 6 a) as cooled down exhaust air via the outlet 1 a. This avoids a heat loss of the air through long transport paths and reduces energy consumption. The same energy can thus affect a significantly better heat-up of the digestate 2.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment according to the invention, where post-processing of the digestate does not occur in a closed container (cf. FIG. 1) but in the open. In this case, only the floor 3, which is already described above and is permeable in the direction of the digestate, is provided with supply air or another gaseous medium being supplied from line 6 via inlet 4. The heating procedure is the same as in the exemplary embodiment above such that corresponding reference is made to the above embodiment. In this case, the exhaust air exiting the digestate 2 is not recycled but enters the atmosphere through an open top or openings in the digestate chamber.

Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims. 

1. A device for processing digestate or digestate mixtures (2), said device including a floor (3) for placing the digestate (2), whereby the floor (3) is gas-permeable, and whereby the floor (3) includes an inlet device (4) that can be connected to a line (6) for introducing a gaseous medium into the floor (3), said floor (3) configured such that the gaseous medium can flow through at least parts of the floor (3) for aerating the digestate (2), whereby a heating device (6 b) is provided in the line (6) for the purpose of heating the gaseous medium that is flowing through the line (6), characterized in that at least one heating element (5) is provided in the floor (3) of the device, said heating heating element (5) configured and arranged to be in contact with said digestate material (2).
 2. The device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the floor (3) is part of a container (1) for receiving the digestate or the digestate mixture (2).
 3. The device as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that the container (1) exhibits at least one outlet device (1 a) for discharging a gaseous medium that is located in the container (1).
 4. The device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the inlet device (4) for introducing the gaseous medium is connected to a line (6).
 5. The device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the outlet device (1 a) and the inlet device (4) are fluidly connected to each other via line (6) for recycling of the gaseous medium from the outlet device (1 a) to the inlet device (4).
 6. The device as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that the line (6) is switched such that is can be fed alternatively or in addition to the gaseous medium coming from the outlet device (1 a), with fresh air from the outside of the container (1).
 7. The method for operating a device for processing digestate or digestate mixtures (2), according to claim 1, wherein a digestate or a digestate mixture can be supplied into a closed container (1) and with a heated gaseous medium thereafter flowing through it, characterized in that the heat-up of the digestate or the digestate mixture (2) is carried out at least in part by heating the floor (3) of the container (1) using a heating element, whereby the heating element is different from the gaseous medium. 